Imagine throwing away your most prized or valuable possession. This is the type of anxiety that a hoarder goes through on a daily basis, even when it comes to old or meaningless items and things others may view as junk. By definition, hoarding is the compulsion to continually accumulate a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others accompanied by an inability to discard the items without great distress. Hoarding can create unsanitary living conditions, not to mention the emotional strain on friends and family. Read on to learn more about the facts of hoarding and the clean-up process, including the benefits of a dumpster rental in Burlington, Mississauga, Oakville and Milton.
Dangers of Hoarding
Hoarding can be very dangerous to your health, mental state, and your home. Hoarding dangers can include: mold growth, bug infestations, structural damage, and tripping hazards. Hoarding has been known to also overwhelm the mind, cause stress, anxiety, and drain energy levels. Even minor hoarding problems can result in a diminished quality of life. A lack of functional living space is common among hoarders, who may also live in unhealthy or dangerous conditions due to improper waste disposal. Hoarders also cope with malfunctioning appliances and systems rather than allow qualified individuals into their home to fix a problem, which means they often live without heat or other necessary comforts. Social isolation, financial difficulties, and family or marital discord are also common among hoarders.
Symptoms and Behaviors
- Inability to throw away possessions
- Severe anxiety when attempting to discard items
- Great difficulty categorizing or organizing possessions
- Indecision about what to keep or where to put things
- Distress, such as feeling overwhelmed or embarrassed by possessions
- Suspicion of other people touching items
- Obsessive thoughts and actions: fear of running out of an item or of needing it in the future; checking the trash for accidentally discarded objects
- Functional impairments, including loss of living space, social isolation, family or marital discord, financial difficulties, health hazards
The Clean-Up Process
If you identify a friend or relative who may have a hoarding problem, a good idea is to act quickly to address the problem and help improve that persons’ quality of life. If your friend or relative accepts your help, rent a dumpster bin and begin the process of going through the junk. Respect your loved one’s wishes and don’t throw anything away without his permission. You will probably experience some pushback, so make sure you can extend your dumpster rental if necessary.